Can you freeze beef wellington?

In this article, we will answer the question “Can you freeze beef wellington?” and discuss how to freeze beef wellington?

Can you freeze beef wellington?

Yes, you can freeze beef wellington. You may store beef wellington in the freezer for up to three months. 

In general, freezing of pastry dough leads to deterioration in product quality due to negative changes in the dough texture. The growth of ice crystals disrupt the dough’s continuous structured sheets, leading to a decrease in the volume of the dough (7). In addition, proteins may also be damaged due to processes that occur during the freezing process and frozen storage, such as ice formation and recrystallisation, dehydration and oxidation (3).

Therefore, to reduce the negative effects of freezing beef wellington, a fast freezing process is required. Fast freezing may reduce the size of the ice crystals formed and better preserve the texture of the food.

Is freezing Beef Wellington a good solution?

Yes, freezing cooked beef wellington is a good solution to extend its shelf life in comparison to storing it under refrigeration. The major purpose of freezing is to preserve food, prolonging the shelf life by retarding or inhibiting microbial growth. 

Freezing cannot be applied as a method to reduce microbial contamination, rather to inhibit its action. Therefore it is necessary to maintain maximum hygienic and sanitary conditions during cooking and the steps prior to freezing (3). 

Freezing will enable you to eat a cooked ready-to-eat dish within a period of 3 months. Although a frozen-thawed beef wellington is not as tasty as a fresh one, freezing will prevent you from having food wastes.

Is it possible to freeze beef in Wellington that has been refrigerated?

Yes, leftovers containing meat may be stored for 3-4 days in the refrigerator before they are frozen (5). If the beef wellington has already been frozen and thawed, it is safe to refreeze it, after reheating previously frozen portions of beef wellington to the safe temperature of 165°F. 

However, the results will not be positive, especially regarding the texture of the pastry. As mentioned earlier, freezing affects the structure of the dough and this damage is increased by freeze-thaw cycles.

How to freeze a Beef Wellington?

To freeze a beef wellington, it is necessary to ensure that the food has been thoroughly cooked. For the majority of recipe meals an oven cooking process is the most suitable. The destruction of pathogens must be achieved at this stage by ensuring that the center of the product reaches at least 70ºC (3).

To freeze beef wellington, cool the dish within 2 hours to a temperature of 40°F or below. To prevent bacterial growth, it’s important to cool food rapidly. In the case of large portions, it is recommended to divide the large amounts of food into smaller portions, by slicing the beef. 

To avoid possible negative effects of oxygen during the frozen storage, which may lead to oxidation of lipids and generation of off-odors and off-flavors, your beef wellington (or its slices) should be air tightly wrapped in clingfilm before being placed in the freezer (6). 

In order to preserve Beef Wellington, how long can you keep it in the freezer?

You can keep beef wellington in the freezer for 3 months (1). Although severe quality losses may be experienced through freeze-thawing of this dish due to its critical ingredients, it is safe to preserve beef wellington in the freezer. 

Freezing is an effective meat preservation technique. Nonetheless, lipid oxidation can still take place in frozen meat. One of the most abundant aldehydes generated during secondary lipid oxidation is malondialdehyde. This compound is also the most commonly used as a marker of the oxidation process (4). In addition to lipid oxidation, protein deterioration may also occur, as well as loss of texture of the pastry dough.

Defrosting Beef Wellington: How Do You Do It?

To defrost a cooked dish, leave it in the refrigerator overnight, as it is the safest method (6). Frozen beef wellington can also be cooked from frozen. In the oven, it can be defrost and subsequently reheated.  

Alternatively, defrost the dish in the microwave.  

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Can you freeze beef wellington?” and we discussed how to freeze beef wellington?

Reference

  1. Foodkeeper. United States Department of Agriculture.
  2. AlOudat, Mohannad, et al. Nutritional content of ready-to-eat meals sold in groceries in Hungary. Int J Gastron Food Sci, 2021, 24, 100318.
  3. Kennedy, C. J. Future trends in frozen foods. Managing frozen foods, 2000, 345-356. CRC Press.  
  4. Wojtasik-Kalinowska, Iwona, et al. Frozen storage quality and flavor evaluation of ready to eat steamed meat products treated with antioxidants. CyTA-J Food, 2021, 19, 152-162..
  5. Freezing and Food Safety. United States Department of Agriculture.
  6. Leftovers and food safety. United States Department of Agriculture.
  7. Gerrard, J. A., et al. Pastry lift and croissant volume as affected by microbial transglutaminase. J Food Sci, 2000, 65, 312-314.

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